Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Dr. Wayne Wallace

Abstract

According to previous researchers police detectives' decisional thought processes correlate with investigative accuracy and these decisional thought processes consist of inferential intuitive and analytic thought processes. Researchers have established investigative decisional dual process use but have not established United States police detectives' conceptualization of decisional inferential intuitive and analytic thought processes in criminal investigations in which they partook. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore 11 United States police detectives' conceptualizations of decisional thought processes based on criminal investigations in which they partook. Dual process theory framed this study. Using narrative inquiry research, individual face-to-face interviews were analyzed thematically and structurally. The results of this analysis indicated significant themes associated with inferential intuitive and analytic thought process conceptualizations. Themes that were established were: (a) inferential intuitive starting points, (b) inferential intuitive information, (c) inferential intuitive experience driven, (d) inferential intuitive value, (e) inferential intuitive fallible, (f) analytic mandatory, (g) analytic purpose, (h) analytic collaborative. Police detectives, as well as society as a whole, may benefit from the results of this study through enhanced investigative training and education. Enhanced investigative training and education may result in a reduction of investigative decisional errors.

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